Bulman has developed a plan for after gridiron days

Wednesday

Aug 1, 2012 at 6:00 AM

Tim Bulman hopes he has many more playing days ahead of him, but when they’re over, the Patriots’ defensive lineman has a plan in place. Bulman and his brother Andy, who works in the Worcester District Attorney’s office, are the co-founders of Incremental Development, a Boston-based commercial real-estate acquisition company.

By Jennifer Toland TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Tim Bulman hopes he has many more playing days ahead of him, but when they’re over, the Patriots’ defensive lineman has a plan in place.

Bulman and his brother Andy, who works in the Worcester District Attorney’s office, are the co-founders of Incremental Development, a Boston-based commercial real-estate acquisition company.

“So far, it’s worked out pretty well,” Bulman said after yesterday’s full-pad practice. “I think real property and real tangible assets are the way to go, that’s why I feel real comfortable doing that. My brother and I are doing it real slow — he’s working his job and I’m doing this — but in the offseason we get together and get a plan going and see what we can get accomplished.”

The 29-year-old Bulman grew up in Milton, graduated from BC High and Boston College and cheered for Willie McGinest, Tedy Bruschi and Ted Johnson, so it was kind of a dream come true when the Patriots signed him last Wednesday. He spent the last six seasons with the Houston Texans.

“It’s been pretty cool,” Bulman said. “I do feel at home. It does have a sense of comfort being home.”

Bulman’s family lives within about 30 minutes of Gillette Stadium. His parents are still in Milton, and Andy, who played collegiately at Kansas State, lives in Abington. Bulman and his wife own a summer home in Chatham.

At BC, Bulman earned All-Big East second-team honors as a senior and received the Scanlan Award, the highest honor going to a BC football player for all-around excellence as an athlete, scholar and member of the community.

The 6-foot-4, 281-pounder originally signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played in 41 games with one start in Houston. Last season, he recorded 12 tackles in 10 games.

Bulman worked out for the Patriots earlier this summer and signed the day before training camp opened.

“Camp is going all right,” he said. “You do some things well, you need to correct yourself on some other things. I definitely think I’ve just got to keep grinding, take it day by day, and do the best I can do that day. I want to keep going forward and hopefully I can stack up enough good days and be in a good position.”

Linebacker Brandon Spikes was an observer during the first four days of training camp, but he was back on the field taking part in drills yesterday.

“Just to get out, run around and get a little contact, it feels good,” Spikes said.

Spikes underwent offseason knee surgery and did not participate in any of the team’s spring activities. He missed eight games in 2011 due to a strained MCL.

Rookie running back Brandon Bolden fumbled during an 11-on-11 drill yesterday and had to run a lap, but coach Bill Belichick seems mostly pleased with Bolden’s progress so far.

“I think he seems like he’s done a decent job in the areas that we’ve asked him to work in,” Belichick said of the undrafted free agent out of Mississippi. “Special teams, he can catch the ball, has some skill in the passing game, and he had some production in the running game in college. We’ve only seen that in drills, we haven’t seen that really in live competition yet. But based on college, it looked like he can run the ball. Pretty smart guy, can catch and can play in the kicking game.”

Bolden finished his career at Ole Miss ranked second all time in touchdowns (33) and rushing touchdowns (27). He was third in all-purpose yards (3,681) and fourth in rushing yards (2,604). He tied a school single-season record with 17 TDs as a junior. A broken ankle limited him to 462 yards as a senior.

Bolden took a step up the depth chart here when the Patriots released veteran running back Joseph Addai before the start of camp.

“Like all the rookies,” Belichick said, “he’s made plenty of mistakes. But he’s made progress. He’s worked at it. Like I said, he’s a smart kid, he’s picked things up fairly well.”

Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, offensive lineman Jamey Richard and fullback Tony Fiammetta did not practice yesterday. Linebacker Tracy White and rookie cornerback Alfonzo Dennard also remained out. … The Patriots will hold their annual in-stadium practice for season ticket holders from 6:30 to 9 tonight. … The Pats will return to the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium for sessions tomorrow and Friday, both scheduled from 1:30 to 4.

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